Insights / articlesInsights
Insights / articles

Alert

EPA Recommends Cybersecurity Improvements for Water Systems

Read Time: 1 min
On March 3, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a memorandum to help improve the cybersecurity posture guarding the nation’s water filtration systems. The guidelines, developed with input from industry experts and various government agencies, provide recommendations for utilities to improve their security and reduce the risk of cyber-attacks. These guidelines indicate that the EPA will aggressively enforce stringent cybersecurity standards in the future.

EPA will require states to survey the digital networks governing drinking water filtration operations. This follows a slew of cyber-attacks targeting critical infrastructure in the U.S.

Cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, particularly water systems, have become more and more frequent in recent years, and the pandemic has only increased the risk. Last year, a cyber-attack on a Florida water treatment plant raised national concerns about the vulnerability of the nation’s infrastructure.

The new guidelines recommend that water systems create a cybersecurity plan that includes a risk assessment, contingency plans, incident response procedures, and employee training. The guidelines also encourage water systems to work with government agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to stay up to date on the latest threats and best practices.

“As cyber threats to critical infrastructure continue to increase, it is critical that we take action to protect our drinking water and wastewater systems,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These new guidelines will help ensure that our public water systems are more resilient and better equipped to defend against cyber-attacks.”

The EPA is encouraging all public water systems to review and implement the new guidelines as soon as possible. By taking proactive steps to improve cybersecurity resilience, public water systems can help protect the health and safety of their communities.

Insights

Alert

Cyberattacks Against U.S. Water Supplies on the Rise: EPA Urges Utilities to Fortify Defenses

May 31, 2024

The increasing threat of cyberattacks against U.S. water supplies has raised significant concerns among federal officials, who emphatically stress the need for utilities to bolster their cybersecurity measures. A recent announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlighted the alarming frequency of cyber intrusions targeting these critical infrastructures, underscoring the pressing need for enhanced protection and vigilance.

Alert

How the Sackett Decision Changed the Chevron Doctrine

July 18, 2023

The Chevron doctrine is one of the most important principles of administrative law in the United States. It states that when a federal statute is ambiguous, courts should defer to the reasonable interpretation of the agency that administers the statute, unless Congress has clearly expressed a different intent. The doctrine, which was established by the Supreme Court in Chevron v. NRDC (1984), aims to respect the expertise and policy choices of executive agencies, as well as the separation of powers between the branches of government.

Alert

EPA Adds 9 PFAS to Toxic Release Inventory List

July 6, 2023

The EPA has recently finalized the addition of nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting program. This change came ahead of the annual July 1st deadline for submitting TRI reports.

Alert

EPA Pushes Back PFAS Hazardous Substance Designation

June 22, 2023

On June 13, 2023, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Spring 2023 Unified Agenda, which pushes back the estimated publication of a final rule designating certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Specifically, the final rule on PFAS CERCLA designation for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) has been delayed from August 2023 to February 2024.

Alert

EPA Planning to Implement Strict Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Emissions

June 13, 2023

On December 14, 2022, Plaintiffs California Communities Against Toxics (CCAT), Clean Power Lake County, Rio Grande International Study Center, Sierra Club, and Union of Concerned Scientists filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had failed to perform its nondiscretionary duty to “review, and revise as necessary” the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP): Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities at least every eight years.

Alert

EPA PFAS Enforcement Has Begun

May 30, 2023

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it has taken its first-ever Clean Water Act (CWA) enforcement action against water pollution by so-called “forever chemicals” from a West Virginia chemical plant. On April 26, 2023, EPA Ordered Chemours Co., owner of Washington Works near Parkersburg, West Virginia, to take action aimed at reducing the levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) the facility discharges into the Ohio River.

Alert

EPA Sets PFAS Enforcement Sights on Manufacturing Industry

April 10, 2023

PFAS are dominating the environmental health news cycles by the destruction and irreparable harm they cause to people and the environment. These substances have been found to pose significant health risks, including cancer, thyroid disease, and immune system disorders.

Presentation

PFAS – The Coming Storm

March 28, 2023

Of Counsels Michael Blumenthal, David Waxman, and Associate Jessica Johnson from McGlinchey's Cleveland Office will present "PFAS – The Coming Storm" to the Association of Corporate Counsel on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

Alert

EPA’s New PFAS Drinking Water Regs: Are You Prepared?

March 20, 2023

On March 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the first national drinking water standard for so-called “forever chemicals” including PFAS. The unprecedented move by EPA is likely to create an exponential increase in litigation.

Deep Dive into Consumer Finance

Introduction: A Deep Dive into Privacy

January 27, 2023

The world of cybersecurity and privacy have grown exponentially in recent years, both on the federal and state level. A pandemic-driven shift to remote has increased social media interaction, and electronic communication with state and federal governments increasingly focused on big data and the use and sharing of consumer information.

Alert

Big Win for Small Refineries

June 28, 2021

On June 25, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with small oil refineries by making it easier for the companies to win exemptions from the existing mandate that they mix ethanol and other renewable fuels into gasoline and diesel, known as the Renewable Fuel Program (RFP). When these mandates were adopted in 2005 and 2007, Congress granted temporary exemptions to small refineries and authorized those refineries to apply for extensions at any time.